Sierra Designs Lightning 2 Tent review

If you are looking to cut some weight out of your backpacking pack, I always suggest looking at your sleep system: Tent, sleeping bag and sleeping pad. For most people you can easily shave a couple of kilograms by replacing heavier items with lighters ones. And for those that are in need of replacing their tent, the Sierra Designs Lightning 2 tent is a great option if you would like to save a little weight.

Sierra Designs Lightning 2 front viewSierra Designs has been building and designing tents for almost 50 years and has taken this knowledge and experience into the Lightning 2 tent. When you first look at this tent you might not notice the differences that this tent brings but the more you look the more you will find. As already reviewed on the Sierra Designs Flash 3 tent, Sierra Designs decided to not use the traditional vestibule, but to use a nice awning on the entrance door of the tent.

The best part of this tent is unique one-piece double/single wall construction. This enables you to set up the tent without worrying about rain getting inside before you get the fly on. Also, setting up the tent is very easy and can be accomplished by a single person in less than 5 minutes. In average it takes me about 3 minutes to set up the tent, once I have decided the exact spot that I will be pitching the tent. Pitching the tent is very easy and it uses a hub-system DAC poles and although Sierra Designs claims is a free standing tent, in order to exploit full functionality, you should use at least 6 pegs. Furthermore, the Sierra Designs Lightning 2 tent has 4 guylines and in extreme wind conditions it’s a solid construction.

From topAwning in the entrance doorSide view

Side viewPole system from topRear partRear part of tentIndustrial Design

The colour combinations (blue and grey) is one of my favourite combinations (in contrary I don’t like the newer version of the green colour) and it looks stunning. Actually, in this part of the world, that is almost impossible to find Sierra Design tents, everyone is commenting the nice industrial design this tent has. The Sierra Designs Lightning 2 tent is a real 2 persons tent with plenty of space for 2 adults. In addition, in the gear closet (as Sierra Designs calls it) the backpacks and/or boots or other equipment can be placed. I have been using this tent also as a single person tent, and I have been very satisfied, especially when the weather conditions are not that good and I have to stay in the tent watching the rain to fall. To be used a single person tent is not the most light, but it certainly provides you a luxury “room” bellow the star.

Ball cap system in the front and back awninglightweight but strong clipsDAC pole systemGuy linesDAC Hub systemDAC hub systemAirflow and Condensation Management

This is a fantastic tent in terms of condensation management. The hybrid design and the right usage of mesh and windows help a lot with the management of condensation. If uses as a single person, I have never seen any condensation in the interior of the tent. When used as 2 persons tent, sometimes, I have seen minor condensation on the rear part of the tent, where it’s a single wall piece. This is just a bit of condensation and that was only occasionally in very humid environments. Bellow, some photos of how the mesh design works in this hybrid design tent.

As you can see from the photo bellow, this is a very spacious two persons tent. On this photo I have been using a Klymit V static Ultralight Sleeping pad, and there is plenty of space for another sleeping pad.

Interior space with a sleeping padLogo detail on the front doorLogo detail on the side vestibule/gear closet

Features

Capacity: 2 Person

• Minimum Weight: 3 lbs 14 oz. / 1.76 kg (real weight 2 kg)

• Freestanding – Can be pitched anywhere—no matter how impenetrable the surface

• Large Single Drop Door – Single door saves weight, but is uncommonly wide and large enough for two to sit side by side

• 15″ Integrated Awning Poles – Maximizes the door opening and drip line without the weight of a support pole

• Gear Closet – Gear storage where it should be—away from the door. Whether toggled closed or left open for additional venting, gear stays dry in a rainstorm. Plus, each occupant gets zip-accessible individual gear storage